Celebrating 50 Years of the Georgia Film Office By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
As the State of Georgia celebrates 50 years of the Georgia Film Office, Governor Brian P. Kemp recently announced another blockbuster year for the film and television industry as productions spent $4.1 billion in Georgia during fiscal year 2023 (FY23). The Georgia Film Office, a strategic office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), reported that the State of Georgia hosted 390 productions, represented by 31 feature films, 55 independent films, 241 television and episodic productions, 40 commercials, Woman. The success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the and 23 music videos, between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. latest example of the high-earning films attracted to Georgia. Of the “Georgia remains a global leader in film, TV, and streaming protop lifetime-grossing films of all time, Georgia was home to three of ductions,” said Governor Kemp. “Those who benefit most from the the Top 10: Avengers: End Game, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and significant growth we’ve seen in this industry over the past couple of Avengers: Infinity War. decades are hardworking Georgians who fill the many behind-the“We talk about the amount spent on a production, but we’ve also camera jobs that come with each project. That’s why we’ve worked seen the enormous impact a project may have years, even decades hard to attract these and other opportunities for those who call the after it has shot in our state – and that’s nearly impossible to quantiPeach State home.” fy,” said Georgia Film Office Director Film Lee Thomas. “We know Georgia’s thriving entertainment industry continues to welcome that tourists flock to Covington not only because of recent projects exponential infrastructure growth, including new studios and accomlike The Vampire Diaries, but also because five episodes of The panying stage space. According to a recent report out of Los Angeles, Dukes of Hazzard were shot there four decades ago. In just a few Georgia has now surpassed New York as the state with the secseasons, The Walking Dead helped transform Senoia from six storeond-highest amount of soundstage footage in the U.S. and is poised fronts to more than 150 small businesses downtown. In Hall County, to become No. 1 if the growth continues as projected. Film support an enterprising local fishing charter company began offering Ozark service companies, including these soundstage campuses, are not elitours of the filming locations for more than $300 per person due to gible to receive the film tax credit. Spending on facility construction high demand and limited space. Beyond the direct spend, it may take does not qualify for Georgia’s film tax credits. To qualify for that years, even decades, to understand the complete economic impact of credit, productions must utilize tax-paying Georgia-based vendors. a project on an area.” In FY23, BlueStar Studios continued construction on a new In addition to working with studios and communities to bring $180 million film and TV production facility in Forest Park. In productions to Georgia, the Georgia Film Office provides multiDouglasville, Great Point Studios’ new facility Lionsgate Atlanta, is ple resources for local businesses and talent to list their services to investing $200 million to construct a 500,000-square-foot, full-serindustry decision-makers, such as the Georgia Reel Crew™ database, vice film studio and modern entertainment complex. which is a searchable, online directory of crew and support services; Athena Studios, a $60 million investment in Athens, opened its the Georgia Reel Scout™ database of local properties available for doors in January with 120,000 square feet of purpose-built space filming; certification and a searchable map of Georgia Camera Ready ready for TV and film production. Electric Owl Studios in DeKalb communities; information on open stage space; and other information County opened its 140,000-square-foot production facility that is that links Georgia assets with industry representatives. the world’s first ground-up LEED Gold-certified studio campus in Gaming, esports, and other interactive entertainment projects such June, and NBCUniversal signed a long-term partnership with Gray as mobile games, virtual reality, augmented reality, and console and TV, which is constructing more than one million square feet of stage PC game development are also part of production growth in the state space at Assembly Atlanta in Doraville. but are not included in the film industry’s direct spend totals. This infrastructure boom is the result of decades of investment To view video clips of recent productions’ experiences filming in Georgia’s entertainment industry, which started fifty years ago. across the state, visit the Georgia Film Office’s YouTube page. Recognizing the success of 1972’s Deliverance, which was filmed in For an overview of some of the productions currently filming in Rabun County in northeast Georgia, former Governor Jimmy Carter Georgia, visit “Now Filming in Georgia.” established the Georgia Film Office to attract more productions to the state, which would help local economies through hotel nights, spending, and encouraging tourism. “The real impacts of the film and television industry in Georgia Continued from page 19 reach beyond the red carpet, improving the lives of thousands of Georgians and contributing to the state’s overall economy,” said knowing that YOU the leader are in control. Remember, the new dog GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Georgia leaders have consisis coming into a situation where it knows nothing about you, the other tently invested in the state’s long-term success. In creating the Film dog, or what the rules of this new household are. Your current dog Office 50 years ago, they realized the significant impact the entermost likely views this new dog as an invader of his territory. This can tainment industry could have here. Today, this is a Georgia industry be stressful for both dogs. with small businesses in communities across the state realizing the Everybody wants to let the dogs sniff each other immediately return on that investment. We thank Georgia’s leaders for continuing and become best friends. But what’s the rush? This is a long-term to recognize the value that film and television productions bring to commitment. You’ve got all the time in the world. Going slowly is Georgia.” the best-case scenario for helping your dogs to eventually become Georgia-lensed films continued to shine with fans and at the box friends. office. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever became the highest-grossTerie Hansen is the Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. ing movie with a female superhero as the lead at the U.S. box office, More information at www.gooddogcoaching.com. overtaking female-led superhero films Captain Marvel and Wonder PAGE 22 Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049
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